Intra-oral evacuator system

ABSTRACT

A dental oral evacuating system which includes a receptacle unit through which liquid and solid waste material passes after withdrawal from the oral cavity and means to connect the receptable to a source of flushing liquid for said receptacle. The system is connectable to a source of vacuum to effect such withdrawal of waste and a pressure-actuated switch in series with an electro-magnetically actuated valve, which controls the flow of flushing liquid to the receptacle, shutting off such flow unless the negative pressure in the receptacle is greater than a predetermined minimum amount to insure the delivery of flushing water only when suction is available to withdraw it from said receptacle.

1451 July 17,1973

[ 1 lNTRA-ORAL EVACUATOR SYSTEM [75] Inventor: Arthur S. Keiper, ll,Newberlinville,

[73] Assignee: Dentsply International Inc., York,

22 Filed: Aug. 5, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 169,196

[52] US. Cl 137/205, 32/33, 141/59 [51] Int. Cl. A61C 17/04 [58] Fieldof Search 32/33; 141/59;

Primary ExaminerAlan Cohan Assistant Examiner-Gerald A. MichalskyAt'torneyC. l-lercus Just [5 7] ABSTRACT A dental oral evacuating systemwhich includes a receptacle unit through which liquid and solid wastematerial passes after withdrawal from the oral cavity and means toconnect the receptable to a source of flushing liquid for saidreceptacle. The system is connectable to a source of vacuum to effectsuch withdrawal of waste and a pressure-actuated switch in series withan electro-magnetically actuated valve, which controls the flow offlushing liquid to the receptacle, shutting off [56] References Citedsuch flow unless the negative pressure in the receptacle UNIT TA PATENTSis greater than a predetermined minimum amount to 3,482,313 12/1969Stram 32/33 insure the delivery of flushing water only when suction1,788,429 1/1931 137/4875 X is available to withdraw it from saidreceptacle. 3,138,873 6/1964 Bishop 32/33 3,202,164 8/1965 Thompson etal. 137 2055 4 Claims, 5 Drawmg Figures PATENIED JUL I 1 ms sum 1 or 2mm Om n V N@ N IV a g ow ow E mm mw ow mm w ill g mm INVENTOR. ARTHUR S.KEIPERJI ATT RNEY PATENIEuJm i 1 ma I 'SHEEIZUfZ III All/11 I 11/111!INVENTOR. RTHUR s. KEIPER FIG. 2

1 INTRA-ORAL EVACUATOR SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION With theadvent of high speed dentistry during the past decade or more, the useof water by dentists for discharge into the oral cavity while performingvarious types of dental operations has greatly increased. This hasnecessitated the use of evacuating units of greater capacity thanconventional saliva ejectors. Accordingly, so-called high volumeevacuators, which are now employed for the removal of such excess water,as well as mouth fluids, during dental operations, include a tubularmember having a diameter of approximately one solid waste material abovea predetermined size. Such flushing water primarily is used to dissolvesoluble matter and also to entrain fine sizes of solid material anddischarge the same to a suitable sewer connection.

For purposes of providing adequate suction within the system covered bysaid patent, a pump of the type which develops a liquid seal is used. Apump of this type is fully adequate to handle substantial volumes offluid in which waste material is entrained in view of the fact that theimpeller of the pump is of the type adapted to directly engage the fluidmaterial incident to passing it through the pump to suitable dischargeports.

There are vacuum pumps widely used at present, however, in oralevacuating systems which merely are capable of drawing air through theimpeller of the pump member. In order to adapt this type of pump to anoral evacuator system, it is necessary to employ a separator unitcapable of separating the suction air from the fluid waste material thatis mixed therewith during passing of the same through the evacuatorsystem and under which circumstances all of the fluid introduced intothe system passes through the tube which is held in the oral cavityduring the aforementioned dental operations. Under such circumstances,in the oral evacuating systems employing such air-type vacuum pumps, noadditional flushing fluid is utilized, especially for purposes ofenhancing the dissolving of waste material within a solids collectorunit,.for example, or otherwise attempting to maintain the solidscollector unit as clean and sanitary as possible.

In the event an attempt were made to introduce supplemental or auxiliaryflushing water into a solids collector of an oral evacuating system inwhich the suction is generated by an air-type vacuum pump, there is apossibility that at least under some circumstances, the volume offlushing fluid may be greater than is capable of being handled by thesolids collector and separator unit and some of the fluid may, undersuch circumstances, be discharged into the air-type vacuum pump andcause damage thereof.

Various developments have been made heretofore for purposes ofpreventing the excess flow of liquid into receptacles of various kindsin connection with dental the air type or liquid seal type and include asolids colevacuator units. Several of these have embodied the principleof providing spaced electrical electibdes at a predetermined levelwithin a receptacle jar, for example, whereby the liquid may accumulatein such jar until it rises into contact with said electrodes, whereupona circuit is established therebetween which operates a switch in amanner to stop the electric motor by which suction-generating equipmentis driven. In some forms of commercial devices, a floating switch opensthe motor circuit. Under such circumstances, the motor-stoppingmechanism normally is intended primarily for safety purposes but whenproviding such an arrangement, and especially the electrodes in closeassociation with a moist atmosphere or actual liquid volumes, it isobvious that substantial electrical insulating means must be provided soas to minimize the possibility of shock to an operator or patient.

In the main, devices of the foregoing type also have been relativelycomplex and have not included flushing fluid for the purposes offacilitating the dissolving of soluble waste material and entrainingrelatively fine particles of solid material for discharge to sewermeans. One such example of apparatus of this type is illustrated in U.S.Pat. No. 2,784,717, dated Mar. 12, 1957.

Another type of apparatus having a similar purpose to that of saidaforementioned patent is illustrated in re-issue U.S. Pat. No. 24,755,dated Dec. 15, 1959, and comprising a reissue of original U.S. Pat. No.2,821,021, dated Jan. 28, 1958. In the latter re-issue patent, a floatis caused to rise within the liquid at a predetermined level in order toenergize a motor for an air-type suction pump when the liquid reachessuch predetermined level. There also is no provision for flushing fluidin said structure.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention has been devised toprovide for the dental profession an intra-oral evacuator system whichmay be utilized with conventional vacuum pumps of either the air-type orliquid seal type which are presently available in dental operatories andthereby eliminate the need for a dentist having to purchase a vacuumpump for purposes of obtaining the full advantages of the evacuatorsystem which embodies the present invention, said advantages and thecharacteristics thereof being as follows:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the principal object of the presentinvention to provide an intra-oral evacuator system adapted to beconnected to a conventional vacuum pump of either cially if the same isof the air-type.

It is another object of the invention to provide in the flushing waterdelivery system a valve which is operable by control means responsive tonegative pressure within the solids collector whereby, unless there isadequate suction to withdraw waste liquid from the solids collector, theflow of flushing water thereto will either not occur or be discontinuedin the event the vacuum range should fall below a predetermined valueduring operation of the system.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in the flushing waterconduit a solenoid-operated valve which is actuated by avacuum-responsive switch connected in the electrical circuit to thesolenoid from a source of electric current, the sensing element of saidvacuumoperated switch being responsive to the'interior of the solidscollector and operable only when a predetermined value of vacuum existsin said collector.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an air-waterseparator unit between the fluid discharge conduit of the solidseparator and the vacuum pump, such separator being utilized undercircumstances where the vacuum pump is of the air-type, but suchseparator not being required when the vacuum pump is of liquid seal typeor the equivalent thereof.

Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as otherobjects thereof, are set forth in thefol lowing specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawing comprising a part thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING ,FlG l is a diagrammatic type illustration ofan intraoral evacuator system embodying the principles of the presentinvention, certain of the elements shown therein being foreshortened forpurposes of adapting the same to the figure.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the solids collector unit ofthe system shown in FIG. 1, illustrated on a larger scale than employedin said figure and being partly broken away. to illustrate detailsthereof, in stretch-out manner.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the air-separatorunit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the vacuum-actuatedswitch shown in FIGS. 1-3 on a larger scale than employed in saidfigures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, a somewhat diagrammatic layoutof an exemplary intra-oral evacuator system is shown which embodies theprinciples ofthe invention for purposes of illustrating the details andcharacteristics thereof. Insaid system, a vacuum pump is shown which isdesignated the air type to exemplify a suitable source of vacuum. Theselection of an air type vacuum pump has been made because of extensiveuse of this type of pump in existing evacuator systems. However, theinvention is equally applicable to any intra-oral evacuator systems inwhich a fluid type pump, such as a liquid seal pump or otherwise,comprises the source of vacuum. It also is to be understood in thefollowing description and claims that vacuum also is referred to as anegative pressure.

The principal object of the invention,as indicated aobve, is to supplyflushing water to a solids collecting receptacle 12 by automaticallyoperable control means adapted to prevent excess accumulation offlushing water within the receptacle l2 and thereby eliminate floodingthereof and possible damage to the vacuum pump, especially in systemswhere the vacuum pump is of the air type. By way of example, one airtype of vacuum pump is that which is employed in certain forms of vacuumcleaners adapted for household use, such as the so-called pot type, inwhich a canister has a compartment to contain waste material and anelectrically operated blower fan is mounted in the canister.

In view of the fact that'the'present invention is concerned primarilywith the solids collecting receptable 12, attention is directed to FIG.2 in which details thereof are illustrated on a larger scale than inFIG. 1 and the container 14 of the receptacle 12 is extensively brokenaway to disclose interior detail. For convenience, it will be seen thatthe container 14 of receptacle l2 may be a'suitable size of jar whichmay be formed from glass, transparent synthetic resin, or otherwise inorder that, preferably, the contents of the container may be observedvisually, for convenience rather than necessity.

To facilitate emptying accumulated solid material from the container 14,the same is readily detachable from a cap or vacuum manifold 16 which isthreadably connected to the upper end of the container 14 and may besuitably formed from metal, synthetic resin, or the like by appropriatemolding or casting. If desired, a convenient gasket 18 may be mounted inconventional manner between container 14 and vacuum manifold 16.,Also,especially as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it

will be seen that the receptacle 12 preferably is mounted, in use, invertical position with the container 14 thereof lowermost.

With further reference to FIG. 2, and also with incidental reference toFIG. 3, it will be seen that the vacuum manifold 16 is provided with aplurality of ports within which portions of certain conduits are mountedso as to project therefrom. Included among such conduits are conduit 20which projects a substantial distance below the lower surface of vacuummanifold 16; conduit 22, which preferably projects upwardly from vacuummaniford l6; conduit 24, which is connectable to a source of water; andconduit 26 to which a pressure-actuated unit 28 is connected.Specifically, and preferably, the unit 28 is a vacuum-responsiveelectric switch, details of which are shown in FIG. 5. An adjustable,vacuum-limiting valve 30, which preferably is of a conventional,commercial type, communicates with the interior of receptacle 12 throughelbow 31 to prevent a negative pressure, in excess of a predeterminedamount, from being developed. Any negative pressure in excess of suchpredetermined amount, if applied to the receptacle 12, results inopening the valve 30 to permit the introduction of ambient atmosphere.

It has been indicated above that the lower end 32 of conduit 20 extendsa predetermined distance below vacuum manifold 16. As shown in FIG. 2,it will be seen that the lower end 32 of the conduit is located anadequate distance above the bottom of container 14 to permit theaccumulation of a reasonable amount of waste fluid within receptacle 12.When the fluid rises above the lower end 32 of conduit 20, however,suction applied to conduit 20 by a vacuum pump 10, through intermediateunits and conduits, will result in withdrawal of waste fluid from theinterior of receptacle 12.

To control the size of solid particles which may be entrained within thewaste fluid and withdrawn from receptacle 12, a filter 34 with adiameter larger than conduit- 20 surrounds the portion of said conduitwhich projects into the receptacle 12. The porosity of filter 34 isselected to permit passage of solid particles of a predetermined maximumsize. In actual construction, the filter 34 may be formed from screencloth of desired mesh size, which preferably is formed from noncorrosivematerial. For convenience, the upper end of filter 34 may surround ashort supporting tube 36 which is press-fitted or otherwise receivedwithin a suitable socket formed in vacuum manifold 16, as clearly shownin FIG. 2.

The outer end of conduit 20 is connected to additional conduit 38 which,at its outer end, is connected to an inlet tube 40 of an air-waterseparator unit 42. Details of the latter are shown in FIG. 4 and it willbe seen that the lower end of inlet tube 40 extends a substantialdistance downwardly from the cap 44 into the cup-shaped receptacle 46.The receptacle 46 has an air discharge conduit 48 projecting upwardlythrough the bottom thereof to within a short distance of the cap 44, theupper end of conduit 48 being open at all times for the withdrawal orair therethrough by the vacuum pump 10. FromFIG. 1, it will be seen thatthe conduit 48 extends between the separator unit 42 and the air inletof the vacuum pump 10. Also, connected to the bottom of receptacle 46 isa waste fluid conduit 50 which, as seen in FIG. 1, extends downwardlyand outwardly to a suitable sewer connection, not shown. A water sealgooseneck 52 may be provided in the conduit 50, if desired.

Conduit 22, which extends upwardly from vacuum manifold 16, is providedfor purposes of connecting, for example a high volume evacuator conduit54 thereto. It will be understood that the conduit 54 is formed fromflexible, durable material and is of adequate length to enable, forexample, a high volume evacuator handpiece 56 to be connected to theouter end thereof by suitable means. The handpiece 56 has an appropriatenozzle member 58 connected to the outer end thereof for use by a dentalassistant, for example, by inserting the same in the oral cavity of apatient while the dentist is performing dental operations within thecavity that require the withdrawal of relatively high volumes of wastefluid. Examples of waste fluid are flushing and/or cooling water, whichis discharged into the oral cavity, especially during such operations ascutting or drilling with a high speed dental handpiece, grinding, orpolishing, as well as while undertaking certain prophylaxis operationsin which flushing fluid is utilized. The foregoing examples are givenonly by way of illustration and are not to be regarded as beingrestrictive.

At the time such aforementioned high volume evacuator means is beingutilized, the vacuum pump will be operating, and waste fluid, as well asany solid particles which are entrained therein will be withdrawn fromthe oral cavity through nozzle 58, conduit 54, and discharged throughconduit 22 into the interior of container 14. When the level of thefluid is above the lower end 32 of conduit 20, the fluid and anyentrained solid particles which are capable of passing through theopenings in filter 34 will be drawn through the additional conduit 38into the separator unit 42 for the removal of fluid from the air inorder that the fluid may discharge to the sewer connection, while theair passes through conduit 48 into the vacuum pump 10. As indicatedabove, the air-water separator unit 42 preferably is utilized only whenthe vacuum pump 10 is of the air type. If it is a fluid type pump, suchas a liquid seal pump, the separator unit 42 may be dispensed with andall of the fluid will be passed through the pump unit to the sewerconnection.

Water conduit 24 is connected by means of an inlet conduit 60 to asource of water under pressure, such as is available from a domestic orcommercial water supply system. To control the flow of the watertherethrough, a control valve 62 is mounted in the line 60. Preferably,the valve 62 is operated by an electric solenoid 64, operation of whichis controlled by the pressure-actuated unit 28, details of which are asfollows:

From FIG. 2, it will be seen that conduit 26 extends upwardly from thevacuum manifold 16 in a position which does not conflict with thevarious conduits leading upwardly and laterally from the vacuum manifold16. To effect communication with the interior of receptacle 12, conduit26 extends through vacuum manifold 16. Also, if desired, additionalconduits and connecting nipples 66 and 67 may be provided to connect acuspidor and hydrocolloid unit to the manifold head 16.

Referring to FIG. 1, electric conduits 68 and 70 are connected at oneend to power line conduits, not shown. The opposite end of conduit 68 isconnected to one contact of pressure-actuated unit 28, which, asindicated above, preferably is a vacuum switch. Conduit 71 is connectedto the conventional connecting contacts of electrical solenoid 64 andthen is connected to the other connector of vacuum switch 28, details ofwhich are as follows:

Referring to FIG. 5, pressure-actuated unit 28 is vacuum responsive bymeans ofa flexible diaphram 72, the periphery of which is clampedbetween a mounting disc 74 and a clamping disc 76. Clamping disc 76 hasa central aperture which receives the upper end of a switch actuator 78which is formed from insulating material and is operated axially bydiaphram 72. A contact screw 80 has a supporting end of a flexibleswitch contact leaf 82 connected fixedly thereto, the leaf 82 supportinga movable electric contact 84 on the outer end thereof. Said contact 84is adapted to make and break a circuit with adjustable fixed contact 86carried by the inner end of a second adjustable contact screw 88.Diaphram 72 and actuator 78 are arranged normally to hold contact 84'out of engagement with fixed contact 86.

The vacuum switch 28 also is provided with a mounting stem 90 which isprovided with a central inlet port 92 extending longitudinally thereoffor communication with the space between mounting disc 74 and diaphram72, whereby the diaphram is rendered responsive to the pressure, andparticularly negative pressure, which is transmitted through the inletport 92 in mounting stem 90. When negative pressure of a predeterminedvalue is developed in the system, diaphram 72 is flexed downwardly, asviewed in FIG. 5, and the resilience of leaf 82 moves actuator 78downwardly and carries contact 84 into engagement with fixed contact 86to energize solenoid 64 and close valve 62 in waterline 60. The mountingstem 90 preferably is threaded and is connected to an appropriate femalefitting provided on conduit 26, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In view of the fact that flushing water which is supplied through inletconduit 60 to the interior of container 14 of receptacle 12 is underconventional municipal water pressure, it is essential that appropriatecontrol of the flow thereof into container 14 must be exercised toprevent the container from flooding and especially to prevent damage tothe vacuum pump 10 under circumstances where the same is of the airtype. The control mechanism described above and illustrated especiallyin FIGS. 1 and 2 is highly suitable to effect the desired control bothsafely and automatically.

It will be understood that when the oral evacuating handpiece 56 isbeing utilized, the vacuum pump is operating in order to producecontinuous negative pressure or vacuum within the interior of container14, within the desired range. The capacity of the pump 10 is selected tobe adequate to withdraw at an appropriate rate, from the interior ofcontainer 14 reasonable operable amounts of waste fluid and entrainedsolid material therein, as well as flushing fluid, which is dischargedthrough conduit 24 into container 14 at a desired rate which iscontrolled by the capacity of valve 62. Therefore, the negative pressuredeveloped within container 14 during operation of the evacuatinghandpiece is highly suitable as a means for actuating solenoid 64 ofvalve 62 through the response of vacuum switch 28 to the degree ofvacuum existing within the container 14 at any given period.

The supply of flushing fluid to the container 14 is desirable,particularly when using a liquid seal pump as the source of vacuum inorder that an adequate supply of fluid at all times will be available toeffect such seal. However, under circumstances when an air type vacuum'pump 10 is utilized, supplying flushing fluid to the container 14 alsois desirable to insure adequate dissolving of soluble waste material andthereby maintain the filter 34 in as clean condition as possible toenhance the maximum passage of fluid therethrough, whereby the system ismaintained in a reasonably sanitary condition. This results, normally,in the only material which is accumulated within the container 14comprises solid material which is of a size too large to pass throughthe openings in the filter 34.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in its severalpreferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is notto be limited to the precise details herein illustrated and describedsince the same may be carried out in other ways falling within the scopeof theinvention as illustrated and described. a

I claim:

l. A compact dental oral evacuating unit comprising a receptacle havinga top, inlet means thereon communicating with the interior thereof andconnectable to a source of vacuum, means on said top to which thedischarge end of an oral evacuating conduit is connectable, inlet meanson said top connected by a conduit to a source of water under pressure,a flow control valve in said conduit, pressure-actuated meansinterconnected to and communicating with the interior of said receptacleand responsive to the pressure therein, and means connecting saidpressure-actuated means to said flow control valve to operate the samebetween open and closed positions, said flow control valve beingnormally closed but said pressure-actuated means being responsive tonegative pressure until a predetermined value of such negative pressureoccurs within said receptacle and then causes said pressure-actuatedmeans to open said valve and permit water to flow into said receptacleto flush the same.

2. The dental unit according to claim 1 in which said top for saidreceptacle comprises a manifold detachably supporting a containerdependingly therefrom, said top having ports therethrough communicatingrespectively with said means which are connectable to sources of vacuumand water and said means to which an oral evacuating conduit isconnectable.

V 3. The dental unit according to claim 1 in which said receptacle isoperated in a substantially vertical position and 'said means on saidreceptacle by which a source of vacuum is connected to said receptaclecomprises a conduit extending into said receptacle from the top thereofto a depth appreciably below the inlet for water on said receptacle, andfilter means surrounding the lower inlet end of said conduit to preventparticles larger than a predetermined size from being discharged fromsaid receptacle.

4. The dental unit according to claim 1 in which said flow control valveis solenoid-operated and said pressure actuated means-is avacuum-responsive switch connected in an electrical circuit in serieswithsaid control valve and a source of electrical current.

1. A compact dental oral evacuating unit Comprising a receptacle havinga top, inlet means thereon communicating with the interior thereof andconnectable to a source of vacuum, means on said top to which thedischarge end of an oral evacuating conduit is connectable, inlet meanson said top connected by a conduit to a source of water under pressure,a flow control valve in said conduit, pressure-actuated meansinterconnected to and communicating with the interior of said receptacleand responsive to the pressure therein, and means connecting saidpressureactuated means to said flow control valve to operate the samebetween open and closed positions, said flow control valve beingnormally closed but said pressure-actuated means being responsive tonegative pressure until a predetermined value of such negative pressureoccurs within said receptacle and then causes said pressure-actuatedmeans to open said valve and permit water to flow into said receptacleto flush the same.
 2. The dental unit according to claim 1 in which saidtop for said receptacle comprises a manifold detachably supporting acontainer dependingly therefrom, said top having ports therethroughcommunicating respectively with said means which are connectable tosources of vacuum and water and said means to which an oral evacuatingconduit is connectable.
 3. The dental unit according to claim 1 in whichsaid receptacle is operated in a substantially vertical position andsaid means on said receptacle by which a source of vacuum is connectedto said receptacle comprises a conduit extending into said receptaclefrom the top thereof to a depth appreciably below the inlet for water onsaid receptacle, and filter means surrounding the lower inlet end ofsaid conduit to prevent particles larger than a predetermined size frombeing discharged from said receptacle.
 4. The dental unit according toclaim 1 in which said flow control valve is solenoid-operated and saidpressure actuated means is a vacuum-responsive switch connected in anelectrical circuit in series with said control valve and a source ofelectrical current.